ok, to ive been presented with a tempting offer, but i would like some advice from you LS geniuses!,
i have an opertunity to buy a 2004 Zo6 for 17,000 with about 6,000 miles (but i was in a flood and does not run, "motor HAS to be replaced"
My question is: should i buy the car, buy a new engine and swap? buy new block and salvage parts from old engine?
or not even bother with it?
(how can i save money when swapping engines "besides doing it myself" )

 

Rebuilding it would be worth it, but I'm afraid that the flood damage may give you more problems then just a new engine. I personally like the look of a hatchback more, and think it's better for resale, but it's a z06 so I would say its fine to be in a hardtop. However, I would buy the newest z06 possible so you have the LS2 engine.

 

There are WAY too many electronic components in a C5 to worry about after flood damage. I would RUN away from that scenario.

Keep looking and you will find!

 

thanks guys, i think your right! and as for buying a new zo6.. i personally dont like the look of the new vettes too much and dont have it in me to spend 30+ grand on a car that i dont really like the look of (i perfer the look of the coupe over the zo6 "c5")
i'd much rather swap an ls2 into a coupe!!

 

It is almost impossible to completely recover flood damage to the electrics in any car, and a 'vette, with all it hasis the worst. The Z06 has far fewer electric gadgets than other vettes (no power antenna, no run flat sensors, not adjustable suspension, no-- well you get it) but it still has alot. That car will be a maintenance nightmare: possessed by odd, seemingly random electrical problems for years to come. In addition, you would have to remove, clean, and rebuild the suspension, trans, brakes, u-joints, etc., too.

Stay away from it. It's good only for parts, now.

 

I'm going with everyone else and saying stay away from it.

 

It occurs to me I did once buy a "flood" car. In 1971 I bought a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 (retail value about $2700 then), which was sunk in a ditch -- literally -- I bought it for $400 as is (up to mid windshield in water) where is (still in theditch).

I disassembled and re-assembled the entire car -- all the way to the frame, and rebuilt it with all new wiring,electrical everything, instruments, etc., and balanced and blueprinted engine with some headwork and a mild cam, etc. Everything worked except the Laycock-Demornamville electric overdrive -- I had to buy a used (non flood) one before it would work. With all that and the slightly modded engine, it was one of the greatest cars I ever owned.

 

Back in my "Rice Burner" days (before I saw the light)...a buddy of mine literally jumped his civic (accidentally) into a ditch (funniest thing I ever saw) half full of water...nothing structurally wrong with the car...but because of the water damage it was deemed "totalled"! $17,000 seems too much to pay for a car that would need a completely new electrical system. Sounds like a $17,000 headache to me...